Toxicity enhancing compounds and methods

Abstract

A method of treating a tumor or cancer in a subject includes administering to cancer or tumor cells of the subject a radiation sensitizing amount of a poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide) copolymer and administering radiation therapy to the cancer or tumor cells sensitized by the poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide) copolymer.

Having described the invention, the following is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method of inhibiting the growth or accumulation of a microorganism comprising:
 administering to the microorganism at least one biocidal agent or biostatic agent and an amount of a poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide) copolymer effective to sensitize the microorganism to the biocidal agent or biostatic agent, the copolymer having a molecular weight of about 1100 Da to about 3200 Da and a hydrophilic lipophilic balance (HLB) of about 1 to about 8.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , the microorganism being resistant to biocidal agent or biostatic agent and the administered poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide) copolymer sensitizing the microorganism to the biocidal agent or biostatic agent. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , the copolymer being selected from the group consisting of poloxamers, poloxamines, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , the poloxamer comprising the chemical formula of:
   HO—(C 2 H 4 O) a (C 3 H 6 O) b (C 2 H 4 O) a —H,
   where “a” is about 2 to about 130 and “b” is about 16 to about 67.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , the poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide) copolymer being administered directly to the microorganism. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , the microorganism comprising bacteria or fungus. 
     
     
         7 . A method of inhibiting growth or accumulation of a biocidal agent or biostatic agent resistant microorganism comprising:
 administering to the microorganism at least one biocidal agent or biostatic agent and an amount of a poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide) copolymer effective to sensitize the microorganism to the biocidal agent or biostatic agent, the copolymer having a molecular weight of about 1100 Da to about 3200 Da and a hydrophilic lipophilic balance (HLB) of about 1 to about 8.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , the copolymer being selected from the group consisting of poloxamers, poloxamines, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , the poloxamer comprising the chemical formula of:
   HO—(C 2 H 4 O) a (C 3 H 6 O) b (C 2 H 4 O) a —H,
   where “a” is about 2 to about 130 and “b” is about 16 to about 67.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , the poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide) copolymer being administered directly to the microorganism. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , the microorganism comprising a bacteria or fungus.